From Viking-tinged black metal band to progressive super-heavyweights, Enslaved have constantly evolved with each release. RIITIIR continues the path of progression as it tackles the near-impossible task of following on from their 2010 masterpiece.

This album hasn't really impressed me the way "Axioma Ethica Odini" did. It's a decent album but it is just a little too proggy for my taste and the black metal elements are a little too soft for my taste.

This album hasn't really impressed me the way "Axioma Ethica Odini" did. It's a decent album but it is just a little too proggy for my taste and the black metal elements are a little too soft for my taste.

I think this album has a lot more similarities with Opeth more than anything.

I'm with you on your first point for sure. Axioma Ethica Odini also impressed me much more than this. Also agree with you on the similarities to Opeth - I noticed that too, but also Mastodon.

If only the black metal components of this band were death in its place, their albums would probably number among my favourites...such a shame that I cannot value the genre, it poses such a limitation.

This is the first album i listen to the band...
This is the open door to the other albuns! This one is amazing! Is really my kind of music...some of the songs are really intense...and that voice is creepy, i love the singing parts and the instruments are well coordinated, very catchy and....deep! This is an deep album... \m/

This album is awesome, the best of Enslaved and simply from this year, 8.55 is so far too weak. The same thing for many albums of 2012, this is unbelievable. The FIRST of this year is less rated than the LAST of 2005!!!! What's happening to you all ?!

This album is awesome, the best of Enslaved and simply from this year, 8.55 is so far too weak. The same thing for many albums of 2012, this is unbelievable. The FIRST of this year is less rated than the LAST of 2005!!!! What's happening to you all ?!

it's a really good album, but i prefer Axioma Ethica Odini. As for the scores:

1 dArK.DaRk
1 Azael
1 ablis89
1 tjsurf246
1 jester_race

That's how.

Vote tanking is all over from lame dbags who like one album so much they sandbag other releases just to jockey for position int he top 10. if i weren't so busy, i'd probably resume nuking all the votes of people like this.

Enslaved is really one convenient band for me 'cause I don't need to hesitate before buying their new record. The quality of their releases says for itself and this album is no exception. At times it sounds more progressive than their previous works, at times it sounds harsher, more in the vein of the classic Norwegian black metal but essentially it's the same kind of music you probably liked listening to before. If not... Well, it's still not too late to give this wonderful band a chance.

If only the black metal components of this band were death in it's place, their albums would probably number among my favourites...such a shame that I cannot value the genre, it poses such a limitation.

Funny, because the core of this band's music since Below the Lights seems to nod more to its hard rock and heavy metal roots more than anything else. And I wouldn't consider myself a black metal buff, but it would seems that a lot of more "extreme" experimental and progressive metal music tends to incorporate black metal more so than not. I wouldn't say that death metal is any less "limited" than black metal, but I think black metal tends to be more atmospheric and, well, poetic. ;3

As for what I think about this release... I have been putting off posting my thoughts on it, because this album is really something that takes a while to sink in. At first, I thought I just didn't like this album. I found it meandering at times and just overall very uninteresting. But then I realized that it's the first few songs that were putting me off, a terrible introduction to an otherwise solid release. The first two tracks have there moments, I guess, but eh... and my god, Veilburner is the most boring song they have ever released, mostly due to the incredibly boring and dry clean vocals.

What I've always appreciated about Enslaved is how every element of their music is complementary to other each other. Everything is presented up front and centered. I kinda feel that the (overly) sharp production and mixing of the clean vocals ruin this a bit in some of the songs. It's nice that they are experimenting by having clean vocals really carry a chorus, but I don't think it really works. Also, structurally speaking, I suppose this album is less straight-forward than their previous album, but it sounds a lot less dense. Less layers, less psychedelic elements, an over-all less intensely engulfing atmosphere.

Now I know I'm a critical dude, but Enslaved really brings out the worst in me it seems. D: This is what happens when a band has such a brilliantly impressive discography! You can hardly blame me for nitpicking a band that usually releases nothing but gold. x3 If this album was released by any other band, I would probably praise it beyond belief, cus at the end of the day, I still like it. I mean, it really picks up around the time of Roots of the Mountain! This track and the rest of the album after it( ESPECIALLY Forsaken) are great. I'm really excited to see what these guys are gonna do next, cus they clearly haven't lost any creative steam. ^~^

Also, although RIITIIR does remind me of Below the Lights (what I think is a great start to getting into the band), I certainly wouldn't recommend it as a gateway album like some folks are implying. In terms of accessibility, it has more in common with Monumension.

For whatever reason, I haven't been very interested in listening to this album. AEO hit me like a truck, and is largely responsible for me returning here and actively looking for new metal outside doom and some obscure black. Maybe that album was just in the right place at the right time, but right now I'm enjoying several other 2012 releases a lot more. This lacks the punch of the predecessor's opener, which was one of the best songs of its year. This album feels more open and spacey (not in the outer-space sense) and I can't really fault its songwriting, so it's probably just me and the fact that there's so good competition out there.

Since I bought this a few months ago when it came I, I think I've listened to it fully three or four times. It hasn't been back in my stereo since mid-October. It was OK and all, but didn't really hit me like AEO. Plus, there are a lot of really good albums this year, an especially good year for doom it seems, so albums like this just aren't getting my attention.

I will probably revisit this sometime in the coming months, probably in January when it always feels (whether they are or not) like new releases are fewer.

AEO was much harder hitting indeed, no doubts about that in my mind. It was also more structurally compound which adds a bit of emphasis to that, songs kind of lend themselves to each other with the final two being the most distinctive from the album as a whole. Strongest album from them in terms of energy within the songwriting, but creativity is where RIITIIR comes into a league of its own I think. Each song is something very different from the last, an observation which I would compare to albums like Isa save with better production and prbably less of a black metal influence in the mix
What really wins me over is the clean vocals, in the first few tracks especially... outstanding really. Loved them on "Lightening" from AEO but here they just floor me. But the final two tracks are really where they redefine their sound I think, absolute powerhouses of progressive black

AEO was much harder hitting indeed, no doubts about that in my mind. It was also more structurally compound which adds a bit of emphasis to that, songs kind of lend themselves to each other with the final two being the most distinctive from the album as a whole. Strongest album from them in terms of energy within the songwriting, but creativity is where RIITIIR comes into a league of its own I think. Each song is something very different from the last, an observation which I would compare to albums like Isa save with better production and prbably less of a black metal influence in the mix
What really wins me over is the clean vocals, in the first few tracks especially... outstanding really. Loved them on "Lightening" from AEO but here they just floor me. But the final two tracks are really where they redefine their sound I think, absolute powerhouses of progressive black

Agree entirely with your remarks here. Had another listen last night and have new respect for those final two tracks. These guys are freakishly talented musicians.

Such a thing definitely exists. "War metal" is probably the definition of brutal/generic black metal (bands like Bestial Warlust).

Really? I though that we don't have such thing as brutal black metal. Also, is war metal a subgenre? I think it's similar to viking metal: it's umbrella term , but not a sungenre.
Anyway, you should neglect this reply since I know almost nothing about war metal and brutal black metal might exist.

Really? I though that we don't have such thing as brutal black metal. Also, is war metal a subgenre? I think it's similar to viking metal: it's umbrella term , but not a sungenre.
Anyway, you should neglect this reply since know almost nothing about war metal and brutal black metal might exist.

(not sure this is technically even war metal, but kinda sounds like it.)

Am I the only one that wasn't totally blown away by Axioma Ethica Odini and thinks that this album is a bit better? Maybe the songwriting isn't as complex, but it certainly sounds more epic--which, the epic, almost mystical bits of Enslaved is what makes me like them so much.

Am I the only one that wasn't totally blown away by Axioma Ethica Odini and thinks that this album is a bit better? Maybe the songwriting isn't as complex, but it certainly sounds more epic--which, the epic, almost mystical bits of Enslaved is what makes me like them so much.

You're probably not the only one but I'm not in the same camp. I prever AEO to this. I get long-song fatigue listening to this album, especially in the second half of the album. First few songs are epic, though, as is "Roots of the Mountain".

You're probably not the only one but I'm not in the same camp. I prever AEO to this. I get long-song fatigue listening to this album, especially in the second half of the album. First few songs are epic, though, as is "Roots of the Mountain".

Oh. Well, I adore long songs, as long as they entertain me all the way through. And "Death in the Eyes of Dawn" is fantastic. I heard it live before I heard the album version, and it was nothing short of being absolutely captivating and enthralling. For a minute or two I could've sworn I was in another world. It was quite awesome.

And "Death in the Eyes of Dawn" is fantastic. I heard it live before I heard the album version, and it was nothing short of being absolutely captivating and enthralling. For a minute or two I could've sworn I was in another world. It was quite awesome.

They didn't play that song when I saw them in Sydney in November - it was one I really wanted to hear live. Still, their set was amazing and stands as the best live experience I've had.

Definitely a grower. This album yet again creates something quite different from their others. A little more alternative, some hints of tool and the Portland atmospheric BM scene, but backed with far more expertise and understanding of songwriting. Not perfect, but the first half is excellent.